Amparanoia

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Amparanoia is the stage name of Amparo Sánchez, a Spanish singer and guitarist from Granada. She led the band Amparanoia from 1996 to 2006, mixing rock, reggae and Latin music with a strong Cuban influence and lots of energy.

Sánchez was born in 1970 and started in music young, joining her first band at 16. Influenced by Billie Holiday, she built a diverse sound and formed Amparo & the Gang in the early ’90s. After moving to Madrid and being mentored by Manu Chao, she developed a wide range of styles and even created Ampáranos del Blues for touring.

Amparanoia released several albums with a bright Latin vibe. El Poder de Machín (1997) was described as exuberant and Latin-leaning. Feria Furiosa (1999) brought in Basque rock and punk influences. Somos Viento (2002) blended Cuban and reggae, with Vesko Kountchev adding Balkan touches. Enchilado (2003) featured Calexico on the track Don’t Leave Me Now. Rebeldía con Alegría (2004) followed, then La Vida Te Da (2006), which included a live recording from Barcelona’s Sala Apolo. Seguiré Caminando (2008) continued her innovative mix. In 2010, Amparo Sánchez released Tucson-Habana as her solo project.

Her work often touched on social themes and she engaged with the Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico, visiting in 2000 and 2001 and helping fundraise for related causes.

The name Amparanoia combines her first name with the word paranoia, reflecting the band’s playful, adventurous spirit and multicultural influences. The project has featured many collaborators from around the world.

Discography (selected):
- Albums: El Poder de Machín (1997), Feria Furiosa (1999), Somos Viento (2002), Enchilado (2003), Rebeldía con Alegría (2004), La Vida Te Da (2006), Seguiré Caminando (2008), Tucson-Habana (2010), El Coro de Mi Gente (2017), Fan Fan Fanfarria (with Artistas del Gremio) (2024)
- Solo album: Tucson-Habana (2010)
- Notable collaboration: Don’t Leave Me Now with Calexico (2003)